Dolls of Canada: A Reference Guide

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

In both content and appearance, this book is a masterpiece. It covers
the entire history of dolls in Canada, from the days of the Inuit and
Indians through the pioneer, Victorian, and modern periods, presenting
dolls as a reflection of our changing culture. Over 1000 dolls are
described and illustrated via black-and-white photos, and there are
supplementary color plates of more than 60 particularly interesting
ones.

A substantial section of this well-researched, comprehensive work is
devoted to commercial doll manufacturers; there’s also an entire
chapter on the Eaton Beauty dolls. Yet the doll as an art form is not
overlooked; there’s a particularly interesting section that discusses
modern doll sculptors and their work. Dolls as an advertising medium,
celebrity dolls, ethnic dolls, and uses of dolls other than as toys are
also covered.

The many photos are uniformly top-quality identifiers: details are
sharp and clear, without detracting backgrounds. Enlargements of details
are included for unique or important features.

The description for each doll includes the year, manufacturer, brand
name, size, materials used for body and hair, identifying marks,
mechanical features, and a description of the costume.

This work will be a valuable reference tool for collectors, libraries,
museums, antique dealers, and all those who fondly recall the dolls of
their childhood.